Movie Review: "To Kill A Tiger"; An Oscar-Worthy Doc Bringing Dire Social Issues To Light

The 96th Academy Awards are just around the corner and this year's nominations have been nothing short of spectacular. From the best picture nominations to the actors even to the short films, 2023 produced some of the best films of recent memory.

Documentaries also play a role at the Oscars, exploring the real life stories from around the world. This year we saw films from Ukraine, Uganda, Chile, Tunisia, and India make their way into recognition. To Kill a Tiger, directed by Nisha Pahuja, tells the tragic and harrowing tale of a 13-year old girl. Her father, Ranjit, a farmer in Jharkhand, India takes on the fight of his life when he demands justice for his daughter.

The film takes place following the gang rape of this 13-year old following a wedding reception. The rape happens in a small village and Ranjit and his family face resistance when they first press charges against the three male perpetrators. A media frenzy ensues and this small village in India becomes an international focus.

Members of the village seem combative at the thought that these three men will be charged. Victim blaming begins and cultural ideals clash. Ranjit, a poverty-stricken farmer, knows this case will take every last cent to his name and possibly his reputation, but he presses on, fighting for his daughter’s justice.

In the film, the filmmakers give the statistic that a rape occurs in India every twenty minutes. During the filming in 2018, it was estimated that 90% of the rapes in India go unreported. It was evident that the men especially in the village were extremely protective of the suspects, hoping they would get off scot-free. They thought it gave a bad name to the village and that the girl would go through hardships in her life, and this was just one of them.

As the case and the trial go one, the end result becomes unsure. However, when the rape victim gives her final testimony, she presents her account with such bravery and competence that the suspects are found guilty and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Since this case in 2018, numerous girls in India have come forward in a culture where such accusations weren't seen as serious matters.

To Kill a Tiger showcases bravery, both from the victim and her father and exemplifies how cases like these shift a culture for the better. I don't want to cast aspersions at just India. The U.S., for example, it’s estimated that a sexual assault occurs every sixty eight seconds. But, women and activists in the film beg the question “When will this culture of rape end?”

I've seen every Oscar nominated Documentary and I thought To Kill a Tiger was the best of the bunch. To see how a family navigates a village against them and victim blaming in real time was inspiring. I think people don't see their daily lives as possibly offering the chance to make a change, but challenging the status quo and societal norms can make a difference.

I’ll be rooting on To Kill a Tiger at this year’s Oscars! To watch the 96th Academy Awards, tune in on March 10 at 7 PM ET on ABC or Hulu.

Both Dev Patel and Mindy Kaling are executive producers with Priyanka Chopra joining this week to support the project. To Kill a Tiger is still unavailable to watch in the U.S., but the film hopes to see a wide release on Netflix soon. In Canada, the film is available for free streaming on the National Film Board’s platform, nfb.ca.